Chocolate Fruit Drops

Fruits and nuts and chocolate, too.

1/2 cup soft shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 squares unsweetened chocolate (2 oz.) melted and cooled
3/4 cup buttermilk or sour milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cups sifted bread flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon soda
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup cut-up dates
1 cup cut candied cherries

Mix well the shortening, sugar and egg
Add chocolate
Stir in buttermilk and vanilla
Sift together and stir in flour, salt, and soda
Stir in nuts, dates and cherries
Chill
Heat oven to 375 degrees
Drop teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet
Bake 10-12 minutes, just until the light touch with finger leaves no imprint
Frost cool cookies
Makes 5-6 dozen